Research Briefing

Research Briefing

Reforming the EU: UK plans, proposals and prospects

Monday, 16 March, 2015

Prime Minister David Cameron would like to reform the EU and renegotiate the UK’s relationship with it, before holding an in/out referendum in 2017 if a Conservative government is elected in May 2015. The UK’s new relationship with the EU would be put to the electorate, who would decide whether the UK should remain in the EU under new terms or be the first Member State to leave the EU. This Note looks at what the Government is doing to tackle some of the perceived weaknesses of EU policy and procedures and looks at prospects for future reform.

• Research Briefing
• EU institutions
• EU law and treaties
• Immigration
• The EU

Research Briefing

The Code of Conduct for Members – recent changes

Monday, 16 March, 2015

This Note sets out recent changes to the Code of Conduct for Members and Guide to the Rules relating to the conduct of Members.

• Research Briefing
• Parliament

Research Briefing

Modern Slavery Bill: Progress of the Bill

Friday, 13 March, 2015

This is a note on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Modern Slavery Bill. It complements Library Research Paper 14/37 prepared for the Commons Second Reading.

• Research Briefing
• Crime
• Criminal law

Research Briefing

Budget 2015: Background briefing

Friday, 13 March, 2015

This note sets out the background to the 2015 Budget, the last of the current Parliament.

• Research Briefing
• Economic policy
• Economic situation
• Public spending
• Tax

Research Briefing

Interception of communications

Friday, 13 March, 2015

This Note looks at past and present law, the role of the Interception of Communications Commissioner in overseeing the present regime and recent developments in this area.

• Research Briefing
• Defence
• Security

Research Briefing

Remploy Employment Services

Friday, 13 March, 2015

Remploy factories provided employment to 2,150 disabled people at 54 sites in 2011/12. Following the withdrawal of Government subsidies from March 2012, most factories have now closed but six have been sold to new owners. It was announced in March 2015 that Remploy will be established as a new company free from Government control in partnership with Remploy employees and MAXIMUS.

• Research Briefing
• Work and incomes

Research Briefing

Driving: drugs

Thursday, 12 March, 2015

This note provides information on the offences for drug driving and their enforcement.

• Research Briefing
• Crime
• Roads

Research Briefing

Sanctions over the Ukraine conflict

Wednesday, 11 March, 2015

The EU announced broad economic sanctions against Russia on 29 July 2014 including restrictions on some Russian banks’ ability to borrow money in EU financial markets, and an arms embargo.

• Research Briefing
• Europe
• The EU

Research Briefing

The Trident Successor Programme: an update

Tuesday, 10 March, 2015

This briefing paper is now out-of-date and has been replaced by Commons Library Briefing 7353, Replacing the UK's Trident Nuclear Deterrent, 26 October 2015.

• Research Briefing
• Defence equipment and spending
• Defence policy

Research Briefing

Sources of Statistics: Business

Tuesday, 10 March, 2015

This introductory guide provides sources of statistics on business.

• Research Briefing
• Economic situation

Research Briefing

A short history of apprenticeships in England: from medieval craft guilds to the twenty-first century

Monday, 09 March, 2015

Today marks the start of National Apprenticeships Week. We take a look back at how apprenticeships have changed over the last nine centuries. Master and apprentice: Middle ages to 1900 Apprenticeships in England can be traced back to the medieval craft guilds in the Middle Ages, originating from the custom of upper class parents sending

• Research Briefing
• Work and incomes

Research Briefing

The Rough Sleepers Initiative (RSI) 1990-99

Sunday, 08 March, 2015

This note provides background to the Rough Sleepers Initiative (RSI) and an assessment of its impact in England between 1990 and 1999.

• Research Briefing
• Housing and planning
• Homelessness

Research Briefing

Miscarriages of justice: compensation schemes

Friday, 06 March, 2015

This note describes the statutory scheme under which victims of miscarriages of justice can apply to the Government for compensation.

• Research Briefing
• Criminal law

Research Briefing

Armed Forces (Service Complaints and Financial Assistance) Bill (HL): Progress of the Bill

Friday, 06 March, 2015

The Armed Forces (Service Complaints and Financial Assistance) Bill (HL) 2013-14 completed all of its stages in the House of Commons. It will now go to the House of Lords for consideration.

• Research Briefing
• Armed forces
• Defence policy

Research Briefing

Russia and the Council of Europe

Thursday, 05 March, 2015

What has the Council of Europe done about Russia's poor human rights record or the alleged Russian action in Ukraine?

• Research Briefing
• Europe
• Institutions